The Virgin Islands Education Department is seeking to rezone two Castle Burke parcels to bring the St. Croix Educational Complex High School and Career and Technical Education Center into compliance with the property’s long-standing educational use.
During a public hearing held Thursday by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the department presented Application No. CCZP0055-26, requesting that Parcel Nos. 5A and 5C of Virgin Islands Corp. Land, Estate Castle Burke, Prince Quarter, be rezoned from A-1 (Agricultural) to P (Public).
Representing the Education Department, Chaneel Callwood said the request is intended to align the zoning designation with the property’s existing use rather than facilitate new development.
“There should be no physical impact,” Callwood said in response to a question from a nearby resident. “We do not plan to do any demolition at the site at this time. Everything is happening inside the buildings.”
Callwood said the work planned for the campus is part of a modernization project that will focus primarily on renovations within the existing structures.
“There will be painting to the exterior and some repairs to the finishes on the exterior of the building,” she said. “This is a modernization project.”
She added that neighboring residents should not experience disruptions from the work.
“Even if there were some demolition, we are significantly far away, well more than 80 feet away, where there would be no impact,” Callwood said. “All of our lay-down areas are within the existing fence lines of our property.”
The hearing included one public comment from resident Misha Webbe, who asked how the proposed rezoning would affect people living on the east side of Castle Burke.
Callwood reiterated that the work will remain confined to the existing school property and that no demolition is planned at this time.
Planning Technician Keshoi Samuel, who chaired the hearing, explained that the zoning amendment process requires DPNR to prepare a recommendation report after the close of the public comment period.
“We have 30 days by law to prepare a recommendation report,” Samuel said. “Once he has signed off on the recommendation report, we forward a copy to the Legislature and the applicant.”
Samuel said the Legislature will then schedule a Committee of the Whole hearing, where DPNR will present its recommendation before senators consider legislation to approve or deny the rezoning request.
He also reminded attendees that written public comments will be accepted through Aug. 2 and noted that the department’s recommendation “could state approval, modification, or denial of the applicant’s request.”
Following the close of the public comment period, DPNR will evaluate the proposal and submit its recommendation to the commissioner before forwarding the matter to the Legislature for further consideration.
